U.S. patent number 6,092,775 [Application Number 08/925,127] was granted by the patent office on 2000-07-25 for beverage cup holder with an actuator.
Invention is credited to David Gallant.
United States Patent |
6,092,775 |
Gallant |
July 25, 2000 |
Beverage cup holder with an actuator
Abstract
A beverage cup holder can be adjustably positioned alongside a
front seat of an automotive vehicle, to hold a beverage container
in an accessible position near a person seated on the front seat.
The beverage cup holder comprises a cup-gripper mechanism for
stabilizing various size cups in the holder.
Inventors: |
Gallant; David (Portland,
ME) |
Family
ID: |
25451263 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/925,127 |
Filed: |
September 8, 1997 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/311.2;
224/926 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N
3/106 (20130101); Y10S 224/926 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60N
3/10 (20060101); A47K 001/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;248/311.2,160
;224/926,282,539,553 ;220/259,531,908.1 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Ramirez; Ramon O.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Cantor, Esq.; Frederick R.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A beverage cup holder for holding different size beverage
containers against tipping or bouncing, said beverage cup holder
adapted for use in a vehicle, said beverage cup holder
comprising:
a tray having a bottom wall;
a cover overlying said tray, said cover having an upper surface and
a lower surface;
a cup-accommodation opening in said cover for receiving a beverage
cup therein, said opening having a central axis;
a cup-engaging gripper mechanism positioned on said upper surface
of said cover for slidable movement in respect thereto toward or
away from said central axis, whereby cups of varying diameter
supported in said tray can be held therein;
a detent means operative between said gripper mechanism and said
cover for holding the gripper mechanism in place while engaging a
beverage cup; and
a single actuator for said gripper mechanism; said actuator having
a drive connection with said gripper mechanism, whereby movement of
said actuator causes said gripper mechanism to move toward or away
from said central axis.
2. The beverage cup holder, as described in claim 1, and further
comprising plural audio tape cassette slots in said cover; said
cover being spaced a lesser distance from the tray bottom wall than
the width dimension of a tape cassette, whereby a tape cassette
placed in any given slot projects above the plane of said cover so
as to be readily accessed.
3. The beverage cup holder, as described in claim 2, wherein there
are four tape cassette slots arranged symmetrically around said
cup-accommodation opening.
4. The beverage cup holder, as described in claim 1, wherein said
drive connection comprises a handle extending upwardly from said
gripper mechanism.
5. The beverage cup holder, as described in claim 1, and further
comprising a detent means carried by said gripper mechanism for
releasably retaining said gripper mechanism in selected positions
of adjustment.
6. A beverage cup holder for use in an automotive vehicle,
comprising:
a tray having a bottom wall and upstanding side walls;
cover removably attached to said tray so as to overlie the tray
bottom wall; said cover having an upper surface and a lower
surface;
means for removeably supporting said tray in an automotive vehicle,
comprising an elongated flexible conduit extending from the tray
bottom wall; said flexible conduit having an end fitting adapted
for attachment to an automotive seat, whereby said tray can be
moved limited distances while being supported alongside the
seat;
said cover having a cup-accommodation opening that has a central
vertical axis;
a cup-engagement mechanism slidably positioned on the upper surface
of said cover for movement toward or away from said central axis,
whereby cups of varying diameter can be supported in the tray;
an actuator extending upwardly from said cup-engagement mechanism
for moving said mechanism; and
a detent means for releasably holding said mechanism in selected
positions of adjustment.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
This invention relates to a beverage cup holder, and especially a
beverage cup holder adapted for installation in an automotive
vehicle, e.g. a car or truck.
The beverage cup holder is preferably capable of holding various
different size beverage cups, e.g. a coffee mug, soft drink can,
small plastic cup, or large plastic cup. The aim is to provide a
cup holder that does not require one specific size cup (container),
whereby the user is not required to allocate a particular container
for use in the cup holder.
In preferred practice of the invention the beverage cup holder is
equipped with plural slots adapted to store audio tape casettes or
compact discs, whereby the user can play recordings on the cassette
player or disc player in the vehicle. The beverage cup holder is
installable in the vehicle alongside the driver's seat and/or
alongside the front passenger's seat, such that the beverage cup
and tape cassettes are within easy reach of the driver or front
seat passenger.
The invention includes an adjustable mounting mechanism for the cup
holder, whereby the user can shift the cup holder limited distances
in accordance with the available space and user convenience.
Different vehicles have slightly different arrangements of the
dashboard, front seats, and console between the front seats. The
adjustable mounting mechanism of the present invention adapts the
beverage cup holder to various different vehicle designs while
still giving the user some range of adjustment to a convenient
position wherein he or she can reach the beverage cup without
uncomfortably twisting or bending the wrist or arm.
In vehicles equipped with a center console between the driver's
seat and front passenger seat the console mounts the parking brake
handle and drive transmission selector lever. The console is thus
relatively large, leaving only a relatively small vacant space
between the console and the leg of the vehicle occupant. This
results in a relatively small space available for a beverage cup
holder. The present invention contemplates an elongated flexible
conduit as a mounting mechanism for the beverage cup holder. The
flexible conduit can be bent and flexed to adjustably position the
cup holder in a range of different locations proximate to the
vehicle seat.
The invention contemplates a beverage cup holder that can be
constructed as a relatively small size appliance suitable for
disposition in relatively small clearance spaces commonly found in
automotive vehicles. The beverage cup holder preferably includes an
adjustable gripper mechanism designed to hold a range of different
size beverage containers without tipping or bouncing out of the
holder. The capability of the holder to adjust to different size
containers enables the cup holder to be constructed as a small size
device, since there is no need for providing multiple
different-size cup holder openings that would necessarily increase
the overall dimensions of the cup holder.
Also, as previously noted, the cup holder includes an elongated
flexible conduit mounting mechanism that enables the cup holder to
take various different adjusted positions in the vehicle, in
accordance with the available space and user preferences. The
elongated flexible conduit can be formed of interlocking collars
having hinging capabilities or a single strip of material wound
helically to achieve conduit flexibility and mechanical stiffness.
Such elongated flexible conduits are commonly used as housings for
electrical wiring and as support mechanisms for desk lamps.
Specific features of the invention will be apparent from the
attached drawings and description of an illustrative embodiment of
the invention.
In summary, and in accordance with the above discussion, the
foregoing objectives are achieved in the following embodiments.
1. A beverage cup holder adapted for installation in an automotive
vehicle comprising:
a tray having a bottom wall and upstanding side walls;
a cover overlying said tray;
a cup-accommodation opening in said cover; said opening having a
central axis; and
a cup-engagement gripper mechanism slidably positioned on said
cover for movement toward or away from said central axis, whereby
cups of varying diameter can be supported in the tray.
2. The beverage cup holder, as described in paragraph 1, wherein
said cover has an upper surface and a lower surface; said gripper
mechanism being slidably mounted for swinging movement along the
cover upper surface.
3. The beverage cup holder, as described in paragraph 2, and
further comprising a single actuator for said gripper mechanism;
said actuator having a drive connection with said gripper
mechanism, whereby movement of said actuator causes said gripper
mechanism to move toward or away from said central axis.
4. The beverage cup holder, as described in paragraph 3, wherein
said drive connection comprises a handle extending upwardly from
said gripper mechanism.
5. The beverage cup holder, as described in paragraph 4, and
further comprising a detent means carried by said gripper mechanism
for releasably retaining said gripper mechanism in selected
positions of adjustment.
6. The beverage cup holder, as described in paragraph 1, and
further comprising plural audio tape cassette slots in said cover;
said cover being spaced a lesser distance from the tray bottom wall
than the width dimension of a tape cassette, whereby a tape
cassette placed in any given slot projects above the plane of said
cover so as to be readily accessed.
7. The beverage cup holder, as described in paragraph 6, wherein
there are four tape cassette slots arranged symmetrically around
said cup-accommodation opening.
8. The beverage cup holder, as described in paragraph 1, and
further comprising an elongated flexible conduit extending from
said tray, said flexible conduit having an end fitting adapted for
attachment to an automotive seat, whereby said tray can be
adjustably supported proximate to the seat.
9. The beverage cup holder, as described in paragraph 8, wherein
said flexible conduit is attached to the tray bottom wall at a
central point on said bottom wall.
10. A beverage cup holder for use in an automotive vehicle,
comprising:
a tray having a bottom wall and upstanding side walls;
cover removably attached to said tray so as to overlie the tray
bottom wall; said cover having an upper surface and a lower
surface;
means for removeably supporting said tray in an automotive vehicle,
comprising an elongated flexible conduit extending from the tray
bottom wall; said flexible conduit having an end fitting adapted
for attachment to an automotive seat, whereby said tray can be
moved limited distances while being supported alongside the
seat;
said cover having a cup-accommodation opening that has a central
vertical axis;
a cup-engagement mechanism slidably positioned on the upper surface
of said cover for movement toward or away from said central axis,
whereby cups of varying diameter can be supported in the tray;
an actuator extending upwardly from said cup-engagement mechanism
for moving said mechanism; and
a detent means for releasably holding said mechanism in selected
positions of adjustment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1, is an elevational view, of a beverage cup holder and
associated mounting mechanism constructed according to the
invention.
FIG. 2, is a top plan view, of the FIG. 1 beverage cup holder.
FIG. 3, is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken on line
3--3 in FIG. 2.
FIG. 4, is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken on line
4--4 in FIG. 2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT
INVENTION
Referring to the drawings, there is shown a beverage cup holder of
this invention adapted for installation in an automotive vehicle,
e.g. an automobile or truck. The cup holder is designed for use
alongside the driver's seat and/or the front passenger seat.
FIG. 1, is an elevational view, of a beverage cup holder and
associated mounting mechanism constructed according to the
invention.
The illustrated beverage cup holder comprises a tray 10 having a
cover 12, and an elongated flexible conduit 14 extending downwardly
from the tray. The lower end of flexible conduit 14 has an end
fitting 16 adapted for attachment to the frame portion of an
automotive seat. As shown in the drawing, the end fitting 16
comprises a channel 17 attached to flexible conduit 14 and a thumb
screw 18 threadably extending through one leg of the channel.
Flexible conduit 14 can be comprised of interlocking collars
capable of hinging motions relative to one another; preferably the
collar assembly is covered by a plastic sheathing 15.
In many vehicles each front seat is slidably mounted on a fixed
track structure fastened to the vehicle floor. The forward end of
the track structure is accessible for use as an anchorage for
flexible conduit 14. Channel 17 can be positioned around the front
end area of the fixed track structure, after which thumb screw 18
can be turned to clamp the conduit end fitting to the track
structure.
In some vehicles the seat frame is available as an anchorage for
end fitting 16. If conduit 14 is to be permanently affixed to the
vehicle, the end fitting 16 can take the form of an angle bracket
attached to flexible conduit 14, with an attachment hole in one leg
of the bracket; a mounting screw can be extended through the
attachment hole into the vehicle floor to rigidly affix the lower
end of flexible conduit 14 to the vehicle. The lower end of conduit
14 is preferably located at floor level near the front corner of
the vehicle seat proximate to the vehicle centerline. In
vehicles equipped with a console between the driver's seat and the
front passenger seat, the lower end of conduit 14 will be located
alongside the console at floor level. Conduit 14 typically has a
length of about fourteen inches, such that tray 10 can be raised or
lowered, or shifted in a front-to-rear direction, in accordance
with clearance considerations and the comfort of the user.
Tray 10 has to be located away from the person's body so as not to
interfere with control of vehicle driver activities. At the same
time, tray 10 has to be located reasonably close to the seat so as
to be within easy reach of the driver or front seat passenger.
Flexible conduit 14 enables tray 10 to be shifted to meet the
different criteria. The conduit has the desired flexibility or
bendability, while still being sufficiently stiff to hold tray 10
in a fixed location while the vehicle is being driven.
FIG. 2, is a top plan view, of the FIG. 1 beverage cup holder.
FIG. 3, is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken on line
3--3 in FIG. 2.
Tray 10 comprises a bottom wall 20 and four upstanding side walls
22. A flat head screw 24 can be extended through bottom wall 20
into a threaded hole in the upper end of flexible conduit 14, in
order to rigidly attach the tray to the conduit. Screw 24 can be
unthreaded from the conduit if it should become necessary to
disconnect the tray from the conduit, e.g. should it be desired to
clean the tray without removing conduit 14 from its installed
position. Screw 24 is preferably located on the central vertical
axis 26 of the tray, such that the weight of the tray is
distributed equally onto the flexible conduit along the conduit
axis, as shown in FIG. 1. The conduit can however be flexed or bent
for adjusting the tray location.
Cover 12 is detachably connected to tray 10, to facilitate cleaning
of the tray undersurface and tray interior surfaces. Various
connecting mechanisms can be used between the cover and the tray,
e.g. a hinged connection, or screw connections. As shown in the
drawing, the detachable connection between the cover and the tray
comprises four rectangular lugs or tabs 28 extending upwardly from
the tray side walls 22 into mating notches 30 in the edges of cover
12. The tabs frictionally hold the cover in place on the tray,
while permitting the cover to be removed, e.g. for cleaning
purposes.
Cover 12 has a central beverage cup-accommodation opening 32
located generally on the tray vertical axis 26. A beverage cup or
container (not shown) can be placed in opening 32 so as to rest on
the tray bottom wall 20. The beverage cup will extend above the
plane of cover 12 so as to be accessible for easy removal from the
beverage holder. Typically, the depth dimension of tray 10 will be
about two inches.
In order to prevent the beverage cup from tipping or bouncing out
of the holder it is necessary that the cup fit snugly within the
holder. If the holder is to accommodate a range of different size
(diameter) containers, the opening 32 will not be sufficient to
retain all of the desired cup sizes, with the desired
stability.
The illustrated cup holder comprises a cup-engagement gripper plate
34 slidably mounted on the upper surface of cover 12. Gripper plate
34 has an inner edge 36 facing edge areas 37 and 39 of opening 32,
whereby a beverage cup can be supported (or stabilized) with side
surfaces thereof engaged against the three edges 36, 37 and 39.
Gripper plate 34 is swingably mounted on a pivot 41 extending from
cover 12, whereby edge 36 of the plate can be moved toward or away
from the axis of opening 32 in accordance with the size of beverage
cup to be supported in tray 10. Numeral 43 illustrates the largest
diameter beverage cup that can be supported. Various intermediate
cup sizes can be accommodated, depending on the position of gripper
plate 34.
FIG. 4, is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken on line
4--4 in FIG. 2.
A cylindrical actuator handle 47 extends upwardly from gripper
plate 34 to facilitate manual adjustment of the gripper plate. A
spring-biased ball detent 49 is located within handle 47 for
releasably holding gripper plate 34 in selected positions of
adjustment. The ball detent registers with a row of circular
openings, or depressions, 51 in cover 12, so as to releasably lock
gripper plate 34 in selected positions, according to the size of
the beverage cup placed in tray 10.
In preferred practice of the invention, the beverage cup holder has
four audio tape cassette slots 58 symmetrically arranged around the
central opening 32. Each slot 58 accommodates one audio tape
cassette in an upright accessible position. The cassette rests
edgewise on the tray bottom wall 20, with a portion of the cassette
located above the plane of cover 12 for access purposes. In an
alternate arrangement, not shown, slots 58 are sized to the
dimensions of known compact discs. The slot 58 dimensions are
related to the type of audio player in the vehicle, i.e. tape
cassette or compact disc.
Depending on the size of the beverage cup holder, various
depressions and pockets can be formed in cover 12 to accommodate
coins, keys, and other items that a person might need while seated
in the vehicle.
It will be seen that the drawings show a beverage cup holder of
simplified design adapted to support various different diameter
beverage containers. The cup-engagement gripper plate mechanism 34
can be moved by actuator 47 so as to conform to different container
dimensions. The lock mechanism shown in FIG. 4 locks actuator 47 in
any adjusted position.
The flexible mounting mechanism 14 enables the beverage cup holder
to be adjusted laterally and vertically to accord with different
user requirements.
Further, the inventor envisions an adaptation, i.e. an extension,
to the preferred embodiment, utilizing one, or more, of the audio
tape cassette slots 58. An extension plate, which is oriented
horizontally, has a fixed opening designed to hold an additional
beverage cup, and an insert section that may be inserted into one
of the tape cassette slots 58. The insert section of the extension
plate, is vertically aligned, and is oriented at a right-angle to
the horizontal extension plate.
The present invention, described above, relates to a beverage cup
holder. Features of the present invention are recited in the
appended claims. The drawings contained herein necessarily depict
structural features and embodiments of the beverage cup holder,
useful in the practice of the present invention.
However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the arts
pertaining thereto, that the present invention can be practiced in
various alternate forms, proportions, and configurations. Further,
the previous detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiments of
the present invention are presented for purposes of clarity of
understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be
implied therefrom. Finally, all appropriate mechanical and
functional equivalents to the above, which may be obvious to those
skilled in the arts pertaining thereto, are considered to be
encompassed within the claims of the present invention.
* * * * *